24 



FIRST STEPS IN GENERAL KNOWLEDGE. 



lying among them, or sometimes two twisted 

 together, and contained in a delicate transparent 

 tube. These threads have a strong elastic force, 

 and perhaps assist in dispersing the seed." 



Henry asked why they were called liverworts, 

 and was told that they were formerly used in 

 liver complaints, and that one of them* is still 

 thought to be of some value in cases of dropsy. 



"Mosses," said his father, "perform a similar 

 office to lichens in nature generally; preparing 

 waste and barren lands for higher vegetation, and 

 often existing on the limits of eternal snow. 



SCALE-MOS6. 



There are some curious little reddish or brown 



mosses,! which cover the rocks like a mat in such 



* Marchantia hemwphasrica. f Andrxa nimli*. 



